A new research paper was published in Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by MEDLINE/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 3, entitled, “Epigenetic age and lung cancer risk in the CLUE II prospective cohort study.”

Epigenetic age, a robust marker of biological aging, has been associated with obesity, low-grade inflammation and metabolic diseases. However, few studies have examined associations between different epigenetic age measures and risk of lung cancer, despite great interest in finding biomarkers to assist in risk stratification for lung cancer screening.

In a recent study, researchers Dominique S. Michaud, Mei Chung, Naisi Zhao, Devin C. Koestler, Jiayun Lu, Elizabeth A. Platz, and Karl T. Kelsey from Tufts University, University of Kansas Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, and Brown University conducted a nested case-control analysis of 208 lung cancer cases and 208 matched controls with archived pre-diagnostic blood samples (from 1989). The case-control study is nested in the CLUE II cohort study, a predominantly White cohort of men and women, based in Maryland, USA.

“It is important to examine whether epigenetic age is associated with lung cancer risk across multiple prospective studies to determine its utility as a potential biomarker to be considered for risk stratification in the selection of high-risk individuals for lung cancer screening.”

Prediagnostic blood samples were collected in 1989 (CLUE II study baseline) and stored at −70°C. DNA was extracted from buffy coat and DNA methylation levels were measured using Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip Arrays. Three epigenetic age acceleration (i.e., biological age is greater than chronological age) measurements (Horvath, Hannum and PhenoAge) were examined in relation to lung cancer risk using conditional logistic regression. The researchers did not observe associations between the three epigenetic age acceleration measurements and risk of lung cancer overall; however, inverse associations for the two Hannum age acceleration measures (intrinsic and extrinsic) were observed in men and among younger participants, but not in women or older participants. Additionally, they did not observe effect modification by time from blood draw to diagnosis.

“Findings from this study do not support a positive association between three different biological age acceleration measures and risk of lung cancer. Additional studies are needed to address whether epigenetic age is associated with lung cancer in never smokers.”

Read the Full Paper: DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204501 

Corresponding Author: Dominique S. Michaud - Dominique.Michaud@tufts.edu 

Keywords: DNA methylation, epigenetic clocks, lung cancer, cohort study

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About Aging-US

Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.

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Aging (Aging-US)

Epigenetic Age and Lung Cancer Risk in the CLUE II Prospective Cohort Study

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as: “An unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”
Among many other variables, mental health conditions play a critical role in determining the emotional experience. Thus, it is very reasonable to hypothesize that baseline anxiety, for instance, may influence pain and opioid prescribing. In this month’s RAPM Focus, Editor-in-Chief Brian Sites, MD, joins Shay Nguyen and Jennifer Waljee, MD, authors on “Prospective cohort study on the trajectory and association of perioperative anxiety and postoperative opioid-related outcomes,” first published in August 2022 (https://rapm.bmj.com/content/47/10/637). In this fascinating study, 1,771 patients were prospectively followed; self-reported opioid use, pain, and anxiety were recorded on the day of surgery and at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-surgery to examine whether or not anxiety was a mediator between pain and opioid use.

Shay N. Nguyen is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Michigan who is applying into classic surgery. She studied biochemistry in the University of California, Santa Barba, where she did research in chemistry and material science. Currently, her research interests include understanding risk factors for opioid use in the context of surgery and perioperative anxiety management.

Dr. Jennifer F. Waljee is a plastic surgeon in academic practice at the University of Michigan. She completed her medical school training at Emory University and completed clinical residencies in general
surgery and plastic surgery at the University of Michigan, followed by a hand surgery fellowship. Dr. Waljee is a co-founder and co-director of the Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN),
a statewide collaborative program dedicated to enhancing opioid stewardship and developing best practices for the management of acute pain during procedural care.

*The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice, and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care, or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this
podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical
treatment or for the medical treatment of others.

Episode 12: Association of Perioperative Anxiety and Postoperative Opioid-Related Outcomes

Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.

Read about the Aging (Aging-US) Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity

New tracks tagged #cohortstudy